San Clemente Utility Boxes Will Become Works of Art

Utility boxes in five San Clemente locations will soon get a lot more colorful.

In conjunction with the , the city will spend $4,500 to hire artists to paint the chest-high gray metal boxes that house transformers and other electrical infrastructure components.

The art will cover the boxes at Avenida Pico and Calle Amanecer, Pico at San Clemente High School, Pico and Los Molinos and Camino Real and El Portal.

The San Clemente Art Association, along with a city design committee member, will choose the themes. An association jury will choose the final artists and designs.

Councilmen and voted against approving the pilot program Tuesday. Baker questioned whether the designs would be tasteful and said the city shouldn’t spend money on unnecessary programs.

Dahl worried the art would encourage graffiti in the surrounding area.

Councilman voted in favor of the program, but on the condition that the payment for artists be limited to $500, knocking the total cost down to $4,500 from the original $9,000 staff recommended.